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USS Daylight

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Daylight Type: Screw Steamer Tonnage: 682
Length: 170’ Beam: 30’6” Draught: Loaded” 13’, Light: 11’
Speed: Avg.: 5 knots Complement: 57 men Class: Not Listed.
Armament: April 1, 1864: 6 32-pdr. 57 cwt., 1 30-pdr. Parrott rifle, 1 12-pdr. rifle
Namesake: Light from the sun.

Images:

20331v: U.S. Gun Boat "Daylight". 3

 

Captain(s):
Acting Master Henry A. Phelon
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

  • Not Present (at Baltimore, MD)4

Second Offensive Order of Battle (June 19-30, 1864):

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (July 31, 1864)5

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

  • Not Present (away in NC)6
  • Note: Under “Remarks,” it is noted that the Daylight was “always repairing or complaining.”  I’m sure that’s an interesting story!7

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

Norfolk, Va. (repairing) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (September 1 & 16, 1864)8,9

Not Present (away in NC) (October 1, 1864)10

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle (October 14-31, 1864):

Not Present (October 14-21, 1864)11

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (October 22-31, 1864)12

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: … until October 13, 1864. Two days later she arrived at Fort Monroe and on October 22, 1864 stood up the James River for guard and picket duty which continued until 6 May 1865.13

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1 & 12 and December 5 & 15, 1864)14,15,16,17

  • Captain: Acting Master Henry A. Phelon (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)14,15,16
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 8 x “guns” (December 15, 1864)21
  • Notes:
    • On November 12, 1864, this ship was located in the James River at “upper Turkey Bend” and was classified as a “propeller” driven ship.22
    • Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.23

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15 and February 1, 15 & 25, 1865)24,25,26,27,28

  • Captain: Acting Master Henry A. Phelon (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)29,30,31,32
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 8 x “guns” (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)33,34,35,36
  • Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.37,34,39,40

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)41,42,43

  • Captain:
    • Acting Master Henry A. Phelon (March 18, 1865)44
    • Acting Master H. W. Wells (April 1 & 15, 1865)45,46
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 8 x “guns” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)47,48,49
  • Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.50,51,52

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

  • TBD

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:53

Daylight a screw steamer, was built in 1859 by Samuel Sneden of New York; chartered by the Navy 10 May 1861; purchased 12 October 1861; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 7 June 1861, Commander S. Lockwood in command…

Repairs completed, Daylight sailed from Hampton Roads 7 September 1863 to serve with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until 13 October 1864. Two days later she arrived at Fort Monroe and on the 22d [of October 1864] stood up the James River for guard and picket duty which continued until 6 May 1865. On 7 May [1865] she put into Norfolk and 5 days later got underway for New York Navy Yard. She was placed out of commission there 24 May 1865 and sold 25 October of the same year.

 

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

      Sources:

      1. “DANFS.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html.
      2. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 72
      3. Waud, Alfred R. , Artist. U.S. Gun Boat “Daylight”. (Between 1860 and 1865) Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2004660617/>.
      4. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157158
      5. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324325
      6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370371
      7. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370371
      8. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410412
      9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462463
      10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514515
      11. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html.
      12. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html.
      13. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html.
      14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 3940
      15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140142
      16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192194
      17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, p. 61
      18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 3940
      19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140142
      20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192194
      21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192194
      22. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, p. 61
      23. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192194
      24. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398400
      25. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      26. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722724
      27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 2021
      28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 5455
      29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398400
      30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722724
      32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 2021
      33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398400
      34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722724
      36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 2021
      37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398400
      38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722724
      40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 2021
      41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      42. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      43. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
      44. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      45. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      46. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
      47. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      48. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      49. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
      50. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      51. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      52. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
      53. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html.
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